Hardly inferior in workmanship to the bowls are the very distinctive Mohegan mortars (də´kwaŋg, “pounder”) made of a pepperidge log, and provided with long stone pestles (gwu´nsnag, “long stone”). Three of these specimens, now in the Heye collection, are shown in Plate [XII]. Practically all of the large mortars for grinding corn in the household, among the Mohegans, were of this type. Their sides were tapered toward the pedestal, and there were from two to three handles on the sides near the bottom. Hollowed scallop work ornamented the edge of the pedestal. The mortars average about 17 inches in height; and their cavity, narrowing towards the bottom, is very deep. The stone pestle is 18 inches long. Until lately a few of these heirlooms were cherished in several Mohegan families.
The use of wooden spoons and ladles (giya´mən) has not been entirely abandoned by these Indians. The designs of most of the forms are considered as aboriginal. They have rather broad oval—or sometimes even circular—bowls, sometimes flat-bottomed bowls; and the handles are of varying lengths, with rounded projections in the under side to prevent the ladle from sliding down into the pot. This favourite semi-decorative and functional feature also occurs in the handles of gauges (Figure [1]). The spoons are usually made of birch or maple. One or two ornamentally carved specimens were found. One with a dog’s head at the end of the handle, and the bowl set at an angle to the handle, is in the Slater Museum. Another, recently obtained from the Indians (Plate [XIII]), has two human faces, back to back, at the end of the handle. The spoons range from 6 to 12 inches in length. Various types are shown in Plate [XIII].
Several articles of bone, ornamentally carved, have come to light. Chief among these are whalebone canes, with skilfully made carvings. The handle of one of these canes represents a very natural looking human hand (Figure [22]). This same figure has been met with in the carvings of the Penobscot and Iroquois.
A few miscellaneous articles made by old Mohegan workmen have been discovered during the investigation, one of which is covered with decorative designs (Figure [23]). No discussion is warranted, since any possible interpretation has now been forgotten, even as to the function of the object.
Strange as it may seem to find definitive material amid such deculturated surroundings, there can be little doubt that these tribes have preserved designs of considerable antiquity. Perhaps they belong to an early type of eastern Algonkin art, consisting of curves, circles, ovals, wavy lines and dottings forming floral complexes, having a general distribution in the north and east, from which the more elaborate realistic floral figures of beadwork have developed.
Figure 1. Mohegan basket gauge.